Ultrasonic microtube dental instruments and methods of using same

Abstract

Systems and methods related to ultrasonic microtube dental instruments designed to cut around a broken instrument by allowing the broken instrument to be placed within a lumen of the microtube instrument while simultaneously boring with the broken instrument and being guided by the broken instrument.

1. A method of removing a broken instrument from a root canal of a tooth, the method comprising:
 getting an instrument, the instrument having a distal end including a cutting surface and a lumen extending from said cutting surface; 
 placing said lumen over a proximal end of said broken instrument so as to place said cutting surface in contact with said tooth; 
 ultrasonically driving said instrument to cut into said tooth with said cutting surface so as to loosen said broken instrument relative to said tooth; and 
 removing said broken instrument. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said instrument further includes:
 a connector configured to attach said instrument to an ultrasonic generator; 
 an elongated shank attached to said connector; and 
 a working portion having a length and a proximal and distal end, said working portion being attached to said elongated shank by said proximal end; 
 wherein, said working portion includes said cutting surface and said lumen. 
 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2  wherein said proximal end of said working portion is attached to an intermediate section which is in turn attached to said elongated shank. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 2  wherein said working portion is generally cylindrical in shape. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 2  wherein said lumen is generally cylindrical in shape. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 2  wherein said shank is generally cylindrical in shape. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 2  wherein said shank is straight. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 2  wherein said shank is bent. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8  wherein said shank is bent into a contra-angle. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 2  wherein said cutting surface is on said distal end adjacent said lumen.